Tabriz’s Climatic
and Cultural Background
Tabriz, located in northwestern Iran, has a continental climate with hot summers, cold winters, and frequent strong winds. Known for its craftsmanship, particularly its carpets, Tabriz is rich in natural resources like minerals and wood, making it ideal for sustainable construction.
A notable architectural influence is Kandovan, a nearby village where homes are carved into the mountains, naturally regulating temperatures by staying warm in winter and cool in summer—an adaptation deeply connected to the local environment.
Culturally, Tabriz is shaped by its balance between private and public spaces. Courtyards (hayat) serve as climate buffers and semi-private areas where neighbors can gather, fostering community while maintaining privacy. This nuanced relationship between private and public spaces is central to Iranian architecture and is a key element in the design of the Tabrizian Tapestry project.
Vernacular Architecture in Tabriz and Modern Climatic Strategies
The architectural heritage of Tabriz offers valuable insights into climate-responsive design, developed over centuries to adapt to the region’s harsh continental climate. The Tabrizian Tapestry project reimagines these vernacular strategies—such as the use of a courtyard atrium (1), greenhouses (2), rammed earth walls (3) , different facade materials (4), special brick window covers (5) and natural ventilation systems (6) —while emphasizing the use of locally available materials like minerals, wood, and bricks. By blending traditional methods with modern innovations, the project creates sustainable, energy-efficient buildings that respect local traditions and address contemporary environmental challenges.
The Tabrizian Tapestry project uses sustainable local materials that reflect Tabriz's culture and landscape. Rammed earth walls, made from local soil and minerals and inspired by the vibrant colors of the nearby Aladaglar Rainbow Mountains, provide high thermal mass. Local walnut and other woods are used for construction, along with durable travertine stone for roofing and terraces. These materials blend tradition with the natural beauty of the region.
BRICK WINDOWS AND FACADE
The brick facade on the north/east and north/west sides of the Tabriz project offers excellent insulation and protection from the elements through an insulated gap between the brick panels and the residential walls. The window system comprises brick panels and glass panels, both mounted on individual rotating axes within the window frame.
The brick panels are made by stacking, shifting, and turning the bricks to create cavities. These cavities allow northern winds to be redirected into the rooms, providing natural ventilation. The south-facing sides of the bricks are coated with a reflective material that captures and reflects morning and evening sunlight into the interior, maximizing natural light. The glass panels are also mounted on rotating axes and placed close to the brick panels so that both elements can fully open or close without obstructing each other. This setup allows users to independently adjust for wind, light, or both, depending on their daily needs and environmental conditions.
In summer, the brick structure can be sprayed with water, using evaporative cooling to lower indoor temperatures and allow cooler breezes into the space, offering an adaptable, seasonally responsive system for personal comfort
Tabrizian Tapestry
Tabrizian Tapestry is a research-driven architectural project that seeks to merge traditional design strategies with modern techniques to address the unique climatic challenges of Tabriz, Iran. Known for its rich architectural heritage, Tabriz faces a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, demanding innovative solutions to maintain comfort and energy efficiency.
Drawing from centuries-old architectural methods, the project investigates how vernacular approaches can inform contemporary design while honoring local traditions.
The Tabrizian Tapestry project incorporates local time-tested strategies, while combining them with modern innovations, such as greenhouses and atriums.
By weaving together past and present, the project addresses the extreme climate of Tabriz while attempting to fosters a sense of continuity with the region's rich cultural and architectural heritage, creating spaces that are both sustainable and rooted in the local context.
GREENHOUSES
Greenhouse facades in continental climates, such as Tabriz, offer a versatile solution to managing temperature extremes. In summer, the greenhouse acts as a ventilation mechanism. By opening the windows, an airflow is created, with cool wind entering from the north entrance and passing through the building. The high thermal mass walls within the greenhouse, made from materials like rammed earth, absorb the coolness of the air and store it for times when airflow is minimal. To further reduce heat, curtains can be drawn over the open windows, transforming the space into a shaded courtyard where residents can gather and cool down.
During winter, the greenhouses are positioned to capture the low winter sun. The sunlight heats the exposed rammed earth walls and the air around them. The warm air is trapped within the greenhouse, and by opening upper windows in the rammed earth wall, only the warmest air, which naturally rises, enters the main living areas. At night, the thermal mass walls radiate the warmth they've collected throughout the day into the house, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature even when external conditions are cold. This dual-purpose system optimizes the greenhouse effect for year-round climate control, creating both energy efficiency and communal spaces.
Atrium
The atrium serves a dual purpose, acting as a greenhouse during winter and a ventilation shaft during summer. In winter, it captures sunlight and heat through its glass roof and south-facing glass front, warming the market below and preventing snow accumulation. The south-facing glass front is designed to catch the low winter sun, maximizing heat absorption. During summer, this same glass front allows indirect sunlight to enter the building while shading the atrium roof from the high summer sun, reducing heat gain and keeping the market cooler.
The atrium also plays a crucial role in ventilation during the hotter months. Hot air escapes through the atrium, drawing in cooler air from the north-facing market entrance to naturally ventilate the space. Additionally, rainwater is collected from the roof, contributing to the building's sustainable water systems.
The atrium's structure is made from locally sourced wood, supported by metal tension cables that also aid in shading systems. Grasshopper was used to program the atrium and simulations were employed to optimize airflow and thermal performance, ensuring the atrium efficiently regulates temperature throughout the year.
WATER SYSTEM
This water management system saves 66% of water by efficiently recycling greywater and rainwater. Of the 19,140 litersof daily water use, only 6,384 liters (33.3%) come from the municipal supply. The system collects 11,082 liters of greywater from household activities, treats it, and reuses 5,790 liters for toilet flushing. Additionally, 1,674 liters of rainwater is collected for irrigation, HVAC, and fire systems. The constructed wetlands process 7,560 liters of greywater and septic tank effluent daily, acting as a natural filtration system.
In the wetlands, water passes through a bed of gravel, soil, and plants, where microorganisms in the roots of native species like Phragmites australis (common reed), Typha latifolia (cattail), and Juncus species (rushes) help break down contaminants. These plants, native to the Tabriz region, thrive in wet environments and effectively absorb nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, further purifying the water.
After treatment in the wetlands, the water undergoes UVC disinfection, along with activated carbon and particle filtration and chemical monitoring, bringing the water back to drinking water quality. This comprehensive system not only reduces municipal water use by two-thirds but also ensures a sustainable water recycling process that delivers safe, clean water for reuse.